Arrachera

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5 from 24 votes
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This Mexican arrachera recipe is made with dry-rubbed and marinated skirt steak that’s been seared to perfection. Slice it up when it’s done, and serve it in warm tortillas with your favorite taco toppings!

arrachera.

Are you ready to take Taco Tuesday over the top? Look no further than arrachera, AKA skirt steak! This dry rubbed, marinated, and seared steak is easy to make and perfect for slicing and layering into tacos, mulitas, air fryer quesadillas, and more.

Table of Contents
  1. What is arrachera?
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make arrachera
  4. What to serve with this dish
  5. Tips to make the best recipe
  6. Storage instructions
  7. Frequently asked questions 
  8. More steak recipes to try
  9. Arrachera (Mexican Skirt Steak) (Recipe Card)

What is arrachera?

The term “arrachera” refers to skirt steak, a long strip of incredibly flavorful meat taken from the belly of the cow right below the ribs. It’s typically seasoned with a citrus marinade before being seared over high heat and sliced thin. Each bite is crisp, lightly charred on the surface, and succulent in the middle. 

Here are some reasons why I love this recipe:

  • It’s flavor-packed and affordable. True to tradition, this recipe calls for budget-friendly skirt steak that’s soaked in a simple, yet vibrant Mexican-inspired marinade (like beef barbacoa).
  • Quick and easy. This recipe is as simple as seasoning and marinating the meat, then searing it in a hot pan. Similar to carne picada, the marinade needs time to soak into the meat, but searing takes less than 10 minutes!
  • Elevated taco night. Just like carne asada or al pastor, arrachera is designed to be sliced into thin strips, and then topped with your favorite taco toppings.
carne arrachera.

Ingredients needed

The beauty of arrachera is that you only need super simple ingredients to dress up the budget-friendly slab of beef! These are the ingredients you need:

  • Skirt steak. This long, flat cut of beef isn’t the most tender steak but it’s one of the best for searing, slicing, and layering into tacos and other Mexican dishes. And just like sirloin steak and bavette steak, it’s a very affordable cut. I recommend removing the silver skin membrane from the skirt steak before searing. The butcher can do this for you or you can do it yourself by sliding a knife under the white membrane, then peeling it away from the meat.
  • Lime juice. Use freshly squeezed lime juice. The acidity helps tenderize the meat and brighten up the dimension of flavors in the marinade. Lemon juice also works in a pinch. 
  • Garlic. Minced fresh garlic cloves add a ton of flavor to the marinade. 
  • Mexican oregano. You can use regular fresh oregano if that’s all you can find, but Mexican oregano has a brighter, citrusy flavor that makes the marinade shine.
  • Cumin. This gives the dry rub a hint of warmth.
  • Olive oil. Used as the base of the marinade.
  • Paprika. This is the base of the dry rub. You can use smoked paprika if you want deeper, smokier flavors. 
  • Chili pepper. It gives the dry rub just a hint of spice and heat.
  • Salt and pepper. For flavor 
  • Fresh coriander. For garnish.

How to make arrachera

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1 – Tenderize the meat. Place the steak on a cutting board and cut it in half widthwise. Cover both pieces with a layer of plastic wrap and pound them down to an even thickness.

tenderized meat.

Step 2 – Apply the dry rub. Combine the oregano, paprika, salt, chili pepper, cumin, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix over both sides of each steak, then place the meat in a bowl or resealable bag. 

dry rub on arrachera.

Step 3 – Marinate the skirt steak. Add the olive oil, lime juice, and minced garlic cloves to the bowl/bag with the meat. Place it in the fridge while it marinates.

marinated arrachera steak.

Step 4 – Sear, then slice. Heat a skillet over high heat. Once it’s hot, add the marinated steak and sear on both sides. 

seared arrachera steak.

When it’s done, transfer it to a cutting board to rest before slicing into thin strips. Garnish with coriander leaves, lime juice, salt, and pepper, then enjoy!

arrachera meat.

What to serve with this dish

Arrachera is often served in warm tortillas with classic toppings, like diced onion, coriander leaves (cilantro), and fresh lime wedges. It’s also excellent with pico de gallo, sliced radishes, chimichurri sauce, salsa, salsa verde, and guacamole on top. 

The seared, thin slices of steak are also perfect for enchiladas, Mexican tortas, tostadas, quesadillas, burritos, and even Mexican pizza. You can even swap out the chicken in Mexican soup with it or use leftovers for a steak bowl.

Tips to make the best recipe

  • Pound down the thicker parts. Pounding the thick steaks to about a ½ inch thickness results in a quicker cooking time and even cooking.
  • Don’t marinate for too long. Leave the steaks in the marinade for a minimum of 90 minutes or a maximum of 8 hours. Any longer, and the fibers will break down too much.
  • Don’t undercook or overcook. For the best skirt steak, sear it over high heat to about medium rare (about 135°F). This should only take 2 to 3 minutes per side in a hot cast iron skillet.
  • Slice against the grain. In other words, slice against the direction of the fibers to make them shorter. This leaves you with skirt steak that’s tender and easier to chew.
  • Use a cast iron skillet. If you’ve made cast iron steak before, you know how much more delicious it is when cooked on this magical cooking utensil.

Storage instructions

To store. Keep the leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

To freeze. The cooked steak also freezes well in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

To reheat. The best way to reheat leftover skirt steak without drying it out is in the oven at 250°F until the internal temperature reaches 110°F. Alternatively, you can reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to keep the meat juicy.

arrachera meat.

Frequently asked questions 

How do you cook arrachera on the grill?

To cook arrachera on the grill, season and marinate the meat as instructed. Preheat the grill to 400°F and grill the steak for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until it’s cooked between medium rare and medium.

How many people does this recipe serve?

This recipe is made with a 3-pound skirt steak. Sliced and served in tacos with all of the fixings, there should be enough to serve 6 to 8 people.

Are arrachera and carne asada the same?

The main difference between arrachera and carne asada is that arrachera is the term for “skirt steak” while carne asada refers to “grilled beef”. Both dishes are made with skirt steak that’s been marinated, grilled or seared, and sliced thinly.

More steak recipes to try

arrachera recipe.

Arrachera (Mexican Skirt Steak)

5 from 24 votes
This arrachera recipe features skirt steak marinated with Mexican spices and grilled to perfection! Slice the meat and use it with tacos, quesadillas, and burritos!
Servings: 8 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 12 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 3 lbs skirt steak sliced in half
  • 1 1/2 limes juiced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons Mexican Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • Tenderize the meat by placing it on a cutting board, covered with plastic wrap, and pound it with a meat mallet evenly.
  • Combine the rest of the dry ingredients and rub the meat with it. Pour the wet ingredients on top of the meat and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to 90 minutes.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet until sizzling hot and place the steak in it. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Rest the cooked steak on the cutting board for 10 minutes, before slicing it against the grain.

Notes

TO STORE: Keep the leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
TO FREEZE: The cooked steak also freezes well in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
TO REHEAT: The best way to reheat leftover skirt steak without drying it out is in the oven at 250°F until the internal temperature reaches 110°F. Alternatively, you can reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to keep the meat juicy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 329kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 37gFat: 19gSodium: 990mgPotassium: 532mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 157IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 3mgNET CARBS: 1g
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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